The Thrillist Awards: Milwaukee's Best New Food & Drink of 2015

In 2015, Milwaukee saw a favorite pop-up get a permanent location, ice cream turn boozy, and new breweries open (obviously), but the biggest surprise for our food scene was the huge influx of flavors from around the world. From South African peanut stew to Korean-inspired grilled cheeses, ethnic cuisine flooded the menus even at our bars. That means when you want to try the year’s best new openings and dishes, you’ll get to check off that new year’s resolution to get a little out of your comfort zone. Don’t worry, though: our pick for the best new burger is a perfectly done classic.

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Best new restaurant

Amilinda

Juneau Town

There haven’t been many openings as anticipated as Amilinda’s, thanks to a large fanbase cultivated at their pop-up restaurant of the same name. Their permanent home has lived up to expectations with a menu influenced heavily by Spain and Portugal, and dishes. ranging from braised lamb to octopus, that are all tackled with a skillful hand.

Best new Asian

Rice n Roll Bistro

Lower East Side

Asian restaurants that take on too many cuisines can raise red flags, but this one pulls it off. From sushi to Thai to whatever cuisine crab rangoon is, every dish on the huge menu is made with finesse.

Best new beer bar

Camino

Walker’s Point

A decidedly unpretentious bar and grill in an area rife with expensive dining options, Camino's focus is on craft brews by the glass or growler. The kitchen is pumping out some instant classics, like the kimcheese sandwich, Korean chicken wings, and cheese curds from a local dairy, and while you’re waiting for your food, you can embrace your inner teenager with vintage arcade games like Tapper and BurgerTime.

Best new bar

Plum Lounge

Juneau Town

Though DJs abound late night, Plum Lounge’s atmosphere is more lounge and less nightclub, thanks to swanky bottle service and an upscale, substantial food menu. Even if dance music isn’t your thing, make the trip for the patio and its long fireplace-in-the-bar.

Best new African

Irie Zulu

Wauwatosa

Admittedly, there’s not a whole lot of competition for African food around the city, but even if there were, Irie Zulu would still be the stand out. The restaurant itself brings a marriage of African and Jamaican cuisines, but it’s the creative combos from the African portions of the menu that impress the most. Start your menu exploration with the peanut butter stew.

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Best new taco

Gypsy Taco

Bay View

The Gypsy Taco cart moved to MKE this year from Door County, and has taken up permanent residence at Boone & Crockett, one of the best bars in the city. They operate on a pop-up basis lately, thanks to a jerk who stole their money instead of delivering a shiny new taco truck. So when you can get your hands on their fusion tacos with Dr. Pepper-marinated pork and fresh veggies, run, don’t walk.

Best new pizza

Anodyne

Bay View

A coffee shop with pizza? It makes total sense when you realize they sell beer and wine and serve as a hub of activity for their neighborhood. The massive pizza oven was shipped from Italy, and the pies are Neapolitan style, naturally. Originally only available on weekends, demand for pizzas has increased, and the oven (thankfully) now only rests on Mondays.

Best new brewpub

Company Brewing

Riverwest

Company Brewing comes out on top by being a brewery, live music venue, and outstanding restaurant all rolled into one warm industrial space. While you’re coming for the impressive, refreshing beers, you’ll stay for the food; much of it is Puerto Rican influenced, like jibarito and tostones, but you can get trout, steak, or gnocchi, too.

Best new vegetarian

Beerline Cafe

Riverwest

You’re guaranteed to feel good for going to Beerline Cafe. You’ll have a good coffee, you’ll be supporting a local business that believes in sustainability, and no animals will be harmed in the making of your food. If none of that actually convinces you, the large array of sweet-filled crepes should seal the deal.

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Best new sandwiches

Xankia

Kilbourn Town

This Vietnamese spot that specializes in banh mi moved downtown this year, earning them much more recognition than they had tucked away in an Asian supermarket. The cubicle farm worker has heard the siren song of pork pate combined with briny vegetables and spicy jalapeños, and will never look back.

Best new supper club

Supper

Lower East Side

A modern reinterpretation of the classic Wisconsin supper club, Supper is sleek and retro, from the decor to the menu. Some things are classic, like steak Diane and oysters Rockefeller, and some things have been updated, like a craft cocktail menu. One thing that straddles both old and new: ice cream drinks. Blue Moon in an after-dinner drink? Yes please.

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Lacey Muszynski is a Milwaukee writer who had trouble keeping up with all the new restaurant openings this year. Follow her on Twitter @worthhersalt.

Amilinda is a warm, vibrant Spanish and Portuguese restaurant specializing in farm fresh, seasonally inspired plates. Amongst the Antoni Gaudi-inspired murals and din of lively conversation, enjoy options like, Beef Espetada served with sweet kapello peppers and Mihlo Frito (fried corn), Halibut over roasted beets and a golden turnip puree, and buttery Goat Pot Pie that melts in your mouth. The wine list is comprised only of Spanish and Portuguese wines and the Catalan-themed cocktail menu features creative options like the Hemingway Espana made with hibiscus absinthe, cava (sparkling wine), and sugar and the Iberian Fizz made with sweet sherry, gin, and lemon. Before hitting the road, sink a spoon into the soft, decadent caramel flan.

Sushi and Thai food come together in this Asian spot with a lengthy menu featuring everything from maki rolls, pad thai, to Caribbean fried rice. In a display of local pride, rolls are colloquially named: the East Town Monster with shrimp, cilantro, avocado and jalapeno, and Lake Front, which hopefully doesn’t describe the origins of the ingredients.

Situated on Second Street is unassuming craft beer bar and eatery Camino. It's is a tiny bar; with only 10 two- or four-top pub tables dotting the front window and 12 stools at the bar, it’s warm and toasty on those cold Milwaukee winter nights. Here, you’ll order from a selection of American bar fare, with starters like “Garbage Fries,” with fried pork jalapenos, garlic, Parmesan, parsley, and rosemary oil, burgers, house-made sausages, like the “Garlic Polish,” with sauerkraut, horseradish cream, and tomato, and, to top it all off, a selection of wings. Wash it all down with one of 20 beers on tap, 16 varieties of bottled brews, and eight types of canned beers, and take a growler to go.

If you ever find yourself torn between dim sum and burgers, there is a restaurant for that. Modern fusion small plates are delivered on dim sum carts at this Harbor View spot, while there's also a section of menu dedicated to heartier plates. It's reminiscent of a Chinatown brunch, but the plates all utilize seasonal Wisconsin ingredients that come together and err on the side of American. Merriment Social also features craft cocktails and signature punches for two, which arrive at the table in small bottles. Just like the drinks, sharing plates is encouraged as well.

Born in 1999, Anodyne Coffee Roasting Co. is a cool, rustic and spacious coffee shop that also serves wood-fired oven pizza. Using a huge Ferrara wood-burning pizza oven that was imported from Italy, this bad boy cooks pizzas in just a minute or two, in true Southern Italian style. Pair your slice with a shot of espresso or a glass of wine.

House brews and inventive New American eats pair beautifully at this rustic, modern brewpub in Riverwest. Company Brewing comes out on top by being a brewery, live music venue, and outstanding restaurant all rolled into one warm industrial space. While you’re coming for the impressive, refreshing beers and tap cocktails, you’ll stay for the food; much of it is Puerto Rican influenced and far beyond the realm of average bar food.

We've never met a banh mi we didn't like but the house special at Xankia takes the cake. Piled high with pate on a crunchy French roll, run, don't walk to this counter service only spot that serves some of the best Vietnamese sandos around.

Get fancy at Supper, a New American style spot located in the Shorecrest Hotel. Inspired by the famous supper clubs of 1930s' Hollywood, Supper offers classic dishes like Oysters Rockefeller and Steak Delmonico with modern, gastronomic flourishes.